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Please join me, Eden Mack, Betty Patu, The Stranger, the National Women’s Political Caucus, the MLK Labor Council and many others in voting for Vivian Song Maritz for my former seat on the Seattle School Board. Remember to mail or drop off your ballot by the end of Nov 2, 2021.

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This election, I recommend Vivian Song Maritz for my former District 4 seat on the Seattle School Board.

I met with or studied all the candidates running in the primary election and concluded that Vivian is not only the best choice, but someone who brings many valuable qualities to the role of school board director, especially important at this time when the district is faltering and desperately needs new vision, energy and leadership.

Song Maritz finished in first place in the August primary, winning nearly 60 percent of the vote.  Second was Laura Marie Rivera, with 21 percent. Current board appointee Erin Dury (who replaced Eden Mack who resigned earlier in the year) did not earn enough votes to make it through the primary. This election offers voters the opportunity to choose for themselves who will represent them on the school board.

Vivian has four children who currently attend or will soon join Seattle Public Schools and is the product of public schools herself. She is also the bilingual daughter of Chinese immigrants and the first woman in her family to go to college.

Her thoughtful, detailed responses to questions, understanding of the Strategic Plan, demand for analysis and metrics to back and measure district decisions and initiatives is a refreshing change.

With an operating budget that now tops $1 billion, the Seattle School District needs responsible fiscal oversight and sound governance. With an MBA from Harvard, and professional experience, Vivian Song Maritz has the skills and commitment to bring necessary oversight, insight and inclusiveness to the School Board.

As a former English language learner who was diagnosed with hearing loss as a child, and with a special needs child of her own, Vivian understands firsthand neurodiversity, the challenges of language barriers and the district’s legal and moral mandate to meet the wide range of needs among its students. She supports better serving SPED students, advanced learners, the Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) community and providing rich and equitable opportunities for all students.

She also supports greater investment in mental health services, supporting teachers and recruiting more teachers and staff of color, among other efforts to combat racism and inequality in education.

Her approach is to bring people in, collaboratively, rather than dividing them, an attitude that is sorely needed in the current local and national climate of division.

Also importantly, in this disturbing time in our country’s history when Asian Americans have been the targets of violent bigotry, children afraid to return to school in person because of Covid-related bullying, we need more Asian American representation among our elected leadership.  Song Maritz will bring this valuable sensibility and insight to the board.

This is an important race: The next school board will select the next superintendent, the math curriculum for K-8 students, will oversee a billion-dollar budget and guide the district through a time of ongoing pandemic, enrollment loss and budget challenges.

Song has been endorsed by a broad range of supporters, including: the National Women’s Political Caucus, The Stranger, the 32^nd, the 36^th, 37^th, 43^rd, 46^th and King County Democrats, the Young Dems, MLK County Labor Council, FUSE Progressive Voter’s Guide, OneAmerica Votes, Womxn of Color in Education, local elected officials, community leaders and former school board presidents and directors including her predecessors Eden Mack and myself, as well as Betty Patu, Rick Burke and Kay Smith Blum, current School Board Director Lisa Rivera-Smith, State Representative Gerry Pollet and State Senator Reuven Carlyle, mayoral candidate Bruce Harrell and various others.

The Seattle School Board desperately needs new leadership. The many communities of SPS deserve to have independent, compassionate, inclusive, detail-focused and fiscally responsible representation. For this, Vote Vivian Song Maritz.

Please join me in voting for VIVIAN SONG MARITZ for SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD, District 4!

Remember to MAIL or RETURN your ballot BY TUESDAY NOV. 2.